Tape dispenser



A. L. MEEKS TAPE DISPENSER April 23, 1963 Filed March 20, 1962 4057/ Z. MEEKS ATTORNEYS ilnite tate Patented Apr. 23, 1963 3,086,723 TAPE DISPENSER Austin L. Meelrs, 5603 Magnolia, Lubbock, Tex. Filed Mar. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 181,090 4 Claims. (Cl. 242-55.2)

This invention relates to a tape dispenser and more particularly to a tape dispenser adapted for the use of dry wall tape mechanics and constitutes an improvement over my co-pending application entitled Tape Dispenser, Serial No. 70,645, filed November 21, 1960.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of this invention, it may here be pointed out that heretofore and prior to the invention set forth in my copending application, dry wall tape mechanics, that is, those who install and assemble dry walls of fiber board or the like, have had to draw an approximate length of tape from a roll, sever by tearing, and then apply the tape to the cracks or crevices left between adjacent sections of wall or at corners.

This has resulted not only in delay in withdrawing the tape, but in material waste in inaccurate dispensing of the tape.

By virtue of the instant invention a portion of tape can be applied continuously to the wall in position for use before severing, thus obviating the necessity of applying subsequent tape to an inadequate length of tape, or the wastage incurred when too great a length has been presevered.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a device of the general nature set forth in my abovementioned co-pending application wherein a roll of tape is attached to the belt of the user and strapped to his thigh so that an adequate length of tape may be unreeled during application, and simultaneously with the completion of the coverage of the crack or the like, severed to provide substantially absolute accuracy in severing lengths of tape.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of such a tape dispenser having improved tape guiding means whereby the tape may be unreeled in either flat condition, or may be pre-creased for corner use as desired.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the relative position of the roll of tape, as well as the severing and creasing means therefor, may be adjustably positioned on the outer side of the thigh or hip of the wearer or user in order to position the tape at the most convenient and comfortable locality.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein a roll of tape is held resiliently in position, and which, when exhausted, may be removed and replaced with a minimum of effort, time, and difiiculty.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of device embodying the instant inventive concept shown as applied to the person of a user.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

'FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the device of the instant invention is generally indicated at 10, and comprises an elongated plate 11 which is provided with longitudinal reinforcing ribs 12. At its upper end plate 11 is reverted as at 13 to provide a depending extension 14, the end of which is outwardly flared as at 15 which is adapted to hook over the belt B of the tape mechanic M, as best seen in FIG. 1. The lower end of plate 11 is rolled as at 16 to form a closed passage through which extends a tie string 17 which is adapted to extend about the thigh of the tape mechanic or user and which is tied as at 18 to secured the plate 11 and its associated mechanism, to be described more fully hereinafter, against displacement when in use.

Secured transversely across plate 11 at a point adjacent the lower end thereof is a U-shaped member generally indicated at 29 which includes a base or horizontal plate-like portion 21 and an inner wall 22 which is secured as by means of a bolt 23 and nut 24 in a suitable aperture in plate 11. Member also includes an outer wall 25 which extends vertically upwardly and has secured thereto a corresponding outer wall 26 of a second U-shaped member generally indicated at 27 which includes a flat base plate 28 which is spaced from bottom or base 21 of the member 20, and which also includes an inner wall portion 29 which is clampingl-y secured to the wall portion 22 by means of bolt 23 and nut 24. Outer wall portions 25 and 26 are held in related assembly by means of a bolt 30 and nut 31.

Walls 22 and 25 are provided with a pair of outwardly bowed vertical portions and 36, respectively, which are aligned with corresponding inwardly bowed vertical portions 37 and 38 carried by the walls 29 and 26, respectively, to form vertical channels for the reception of the ends of spaced parallel wire members 49 which comprise the end extremities of a generally U-shaped inverted wire member 41.

An elongated vertical slot 42 in plate 11 has positioned therein a headed bolt 43, which extends into a threaded recess 44 in a tape reel holding hub 45, which is aligned with an opposite hub 46, the two hubs having peripheral flanges 47 and 48, respectively, to hold the hub 49 of a reel 50 of tape or the like. Outer hub 46 is provided with a threaded bore 51 into which extends a head bolt 52, which passes through a suitable opening in a clamping plate 53, which is provided with outwardly extending channel members 54, which engage over the legs of the inverted U-shaped member 41 clampingly to hold the hub 46 in suitable vertical adjustment in alignment with the opposite hub 45.

In the use and operation of the device as so far described, the portion 14 of plate 11 is hooked over the belt B of the user, and the strap or cord 17 tied around the thigh at a convenient location, after the suitable alignment of the hubs and 46 in the most convenient location for the user. When flat tape is to be unrolled from reel 50, the end as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, is grasped by the tape mechanic, and unreeled from the reel as it is applied to a flat surface to cover a crack or the like.

Under certain conditions, as when applying the tape to an inside corner, it is desirable to have the tape creased longitudinally as indicated in full lines at 61 in FIG. 1. Under such conditions the tape end 62 is extended downwardly between plates 21 and 28, and then outwardly through an extending portion generally indicated at 63 of U-shaped member 20. The portion 63 is comprised of a generally arcuate base 64, including oppositely disposed upstanding side walls 65 having an opening at their ends 66 which is relatively sharp at the bottom as indicated at 67 and which tapers outwardly slightly towards the top as shown in 68. 'When the tape end 61 is pulled in this fashion, it is centrally creased with the adhesive on the outside for ready application to a corner as desired.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved tape dispensing device which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantagesof great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a tape dispenser, the combination of a base plate having a reverted top end adapted to be hooked over the belt of a user, a rolled bottom end, a tie extended through said rolled bottom end adapted to be secured about the thigh of a user, said plate having a vertical slot therein, a tape hub mounted for vertical linear adjustment in said slot, a U-shaped channel member having its inner leg fixedly secured to said base plate and extending outwardly therefrom, a resilient member secured to the outer leg of said channel member, a second tape hub adjustably secured to said resilient member for alignment with said first-mentioned hub, and a roll of tape resiliently clamped between said hubs.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said resilient member comprises an inverted U-shaped wire and said second tape hub is secured thereto by means of a clamping plate having aligned channels therein for the reception of the legs of said wire, and a screw extended through an opening in said clamping plate and threadedly engaging in a threaded bore in said second hub.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said channel member includes inner and outer vertical walls and a transverse bight, said outer wall having channels therein aligned with the channels of said clamping member, and a second U-shaped member including inner and outer Walls and a transverse bight, said outer wall of said second U-shaped member having opposite channels aligned with the channels of said first-mentioned outer wall, and screw means clam-ping said first and second mentioned outer walls about the ends of the legs of said U-shaped wire.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the bight of said second mentioned U-shaped member is spaced from the bight of said first mentioned U-shaped member to provide a passage for tape from said roll, and said first-mentioned bight is provided with a V-shaped lateral extension for creasing said tape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,525,992 Wynn Oct. 17, 1950 

1. IN A TAPE DISPENSER, THE COMBINATION OF A BASE PLATE HAVING A REVERTED TOP END ADAPTED TO BE HOOKED OVER THE BELT OF A USER, A ROLLED BOTTOM END, A TIE EXTENDED THROUGH SAID ROLLED BOTTOM END ADAPTED TO BE SECURED ABOUT THE THIGH OF A USER, SAID PLATE HAVING A VERTICAL SLOT THEREIN, A TAPE HUB MOUNTED FOR VERTICAL LINEAR ADJUSTMENT IN SAID SLOT, A U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBER HAVING ITS INNER LEG FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID BASE PLATE AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, A RESILIENT MEMBER SECURED TO THE OUTER LEG OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBER, A SECOND TAPE HUB ADJUSTABLY SECURED TO SAID RESILIENT MEMBER FOR ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST-MENTIONED HUB, AND A ROLL OF TAPE RESILIENTLY CLAMPED BETWEEN SAID HUBS. 